Airworthiness certification for U.S. Navy flight testing: local application of a global process

Timothy C. Schoppert, Ph.D., Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center,Patuxent River, Maryland, U.S.A.
Myles E. Landon, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, U.S.A.

Abstract

Before the wheels leave the ground, the inherent and unique risks involved in every flight test program must be considered. Prior to flight testing, the key components of risk mi-tigation are test planning, configuration management, and airworthiness certification; these processes work together to define the limits of what is to come. The objective of this paper is two-fold: to describe Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR’s) airworthiness certification process for flight testing with specific attention to its application at the squadron level, and to show the relationships between airworthiness certification and the additional tenets of a com-plete and sound airworthiness process.

The airworthiness certification process for U.S. Navy flight testing includes many parts: writ-ten requests, data packages, independent engineering assessments from subject matter experts, experienced and empowered airworthiness agents to promulgate airworthiness certifications, specific documentation requirements, etc. A successful airworthiness program should also include ongoing training for those within the process (e.g. approvers) as well as those simply using the process (e.g. project test teams). Finally, there should be a plan to successfully man-age and maintain airworthiness certifications after issuance. All of these requirements, as well as information on best practices, specific project examples from the hangar-deck, and various lessons learned, will be discussed to show how airworthiness certifications are obtained within NAVAIR, as well as the specific application of certifications within the local squadron AIRTEVRON TWO ZERO.